Bihar districts reel under heatwave conditions as temperatures hover above 40°C

The MeT centre declared heatwave in Purnea, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura, Khagaria, Banka and Kishanganj districts

Bihar districts continue to reel under immense heatwave conditions for the third day in a row as the maximum temperatures remained above 40°C, said officials of Patna Meteorological Centre.

A heatwave is declared in plains when the maximum temperature is over 40°C. (HT file image)

The MeT centre declared heatwave in Purnea, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura, Khagaria, Banka and Kishanganj districts.

Sheikhpura, Aurangabad and Katihar recorded a maximum temperature of 41.9°C, Purnea 41.5°C, Patna 41.4°C, Gaya and Siwan 41.4°C each respectively.

Majority of the weather stations recorded maximum and minimum temperatures one to two degrees above the season’s corresponding normal.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), a heatwave is declared in plains when the maximum temperature is over 40°C.

Residents are unlikely to get any respite from the scorching summer as mercury is expected to rise further by two to three notches, MeT department said.

Neha Kumari, an official at Patna Meteorological Centre, said, “Dry weather prevailed in the state in the past 24 hours. The maximum temperature is higher in southern districts of the state in comparison to northern districts.”

The MeT department of the state has issued a yellow-colour warning for heat wave conditions in 10 districts including Patna, Purnea, Nawada, Sheikpura, Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Jamui, Banka and West-Champaran on Thursday.

A yellow alert is issued when the temperature is expected to be between 35°C and 40°C.